Bad Axe council considers a more peaceful 4th of July

Published 6:30 am, Thursday, July 7, 2016

BAD AXE — City council members discussed violations of the fireworks ordinance over the July 4th holiday weekend at Tuesday night’s meeting.

This issue is hard to police, Mayor Jim Hicks told the Tribune after the meeting.

“There ain’t nothing you can do to stop the damned things (fireworks),” he said.

During the meeting, Councilman Nick Rochefort suggested an ordinance committee meeting to address the issue of people setting off fireworks later than the 11 p.m. deadline set forth in the current ordinance.

In other council business:

• The city’s pension fund is underfunded by $3.27 million, according to a report, Councilman James Hall told the council.

The estimated earning rate on the funds went from 8 percent to 7.25 percent, and the life expectancy of participants was changed, he said.

As a result, despite putting extra funds aside, the city is still falling short, Hall said.

• Dozens of employees from Gemini Group helped the city Parks and Recreation Department on June 30 by cutting down brush and trees in the city parks and on the walking trail, and putting mulch around playground equipment, Hicks said.

• Councilman Richard S. Peterson said he had gotten a complaint about blight in the city, but that the city has received no formal complaints.